White Foam at Cocoa Beach, and the Gift of Time

White foam covers the sand as a wave recedes at Cocoa Beach, Florida, as beachgoers enjoy the water.

Yes, it is another beach photo coming right after another beach photo. However, that last beach photo was a Hawaiʻi beach photo, while this one is a Florida beach photo from our 2023 Florida trip.

One of my favorite things about this photo is the cloudy sky. On the day we were at Cocoa Beach during our 2024 trip, there were not many clouds. And that was nice in many ways. The clouds helped to filter the sunlight a bit instead of having the sun wash everything out. Plus, this 2023 trip was in October, compared to July in 2024, so the angle of the sun was different, too.

Of course, most any day at the beach is a good day! But on some days, the photos turn out better than on other days. No complaints at all, though.

It’s About Time

I am writing this on the first day of May. That means one third of 2025 has already come and gone. Or 33%, if you like percentages. Four months. Wasn’t it just a short while ago that we were welcoming in the new year?

Time passes quickly, except when it does not. Some things seem like only a short while ago. Other recent events seem like a long time ago. For example, the Florida trip that the above photo is from is approaching two years ago, but it does not seem like that long. However, due to our recent busy schedule, our recent trip to Nashville, which was only two weeks ago, seems like a long way off right now. Isn’t it funny how time is like that?

I remember many times our preacher at church saying, “You never know what will happen from one week to the next,” when someone who was there at the previous Sunday’s service had passed away unexpectedly during the week.

None of us is promised a future. It could all end right now. Or we could live for many more years. None of that is necessarily meant to frighten you, although if your life is not right with God, maybe now is the time to do something about that.

Instead, all of that is meant to remind you that the time that we have is a blessing. It is a gift that has been given to us, and we should use it wisely. Will you use that time for yourself, or will you use that time to serve God by serving others?

Make the most of the time that you have, because it is a blessing from God.

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. - Ephesians 5:15-17 CSV

About the Photo

This photo has a slightly darker look than the 2024 photos, such as this one. That is partly due to the angle of the sun and the clouds, and it is also partly due to the processing. I worked a bit to get this look, and it was just what I was going for. A good combination of light and dark tones, and lots of color, too.

Photo: A single Raw exposure, processed in Darktable and GIMP.
Camera: Sony Alpha A7 II
Lens: Rokinon 35mm f/1.8
ISO: ISO-200
Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec.
Aperture: f/4
Focal length: 35mm
Date: October 10, 2023
Location: Cocoa Beach, Florida